Bangkok: The Thai Army is increasing its military strength and signing an official contract to purchase Gripen fighter jets with Sweden on August 25.
According to Thai News Agency, this signing, led by Air Chief Marshal Panpakdee Pattanakul, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, will take place in Sweden, in accordance with the Cabinet's approval in principle for the first phase of the Gripen E/F fighter procurement project, totaling four aircraft valued at 19.5 billion baht.
This procurement of replacement fighter aircraft not only increases military security capabilities and strengthens national defense potential, but is also an investment in the future of all Thai people and is an important mechanism for national development in the economic, social, educational, and technological areas. In signing the purchase agreement for the "Gripen," Sweden will have the Swedish Minister of Defense attend as a witness.
On the Thai side, Mr. Maris Sngiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will witness the signing. Mr. Maris is on an official visit to Sweden from August 24-26 to elevate Thai-Swedish relations to a strategic partnership.
The "Gripen," the Royal Thai Air Force's most modern fighter jet, demonstrated its power during a joint mission to protect sovereignty along the Thai-Cambodian border on July 26th. This marked a historic moment for the Gripen fighter jet, which is in service with several countries, and was used in combat missions using live weapons for the first time.
In that mission, the Air Force sent two Gripens to attack enemy targets in two strategic locations where artillery and missiles were identified as being fired towards the Thai side. The mission proceeded with precision and speed, the targets were destroyed, and all aircraft returned to base safely.